Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has made a massive prediction about India's rising star Rishabh Pant, saying that the left-hander was on course to become a “world-class” player.

The ex-Pakistan tweaker also compared Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya's partnership in Sunday's third ODI against England with Yuvraj Singh's match-defining stand with Mohammed Kaif in the Natwest Trophy final against the same team at the iconic Lord's in 2002.

“Pant's innings reminded me of Yuvraj and Kaif in the Natwest Trophy final. Even there, the top-order batters were gone in a collapse, the youngsters helped India cross the line,” the former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said on his YouTube channel.

“Pandya and Pant also similarly put up a crucial partnership. They broke the bowling unit. Pandya is in a great rhythm now, he has worked really hard on his fitness,” Danish Kaneria added.

“Rishabh Pant played with a lot of maturity, he is going to be a world-class player. There are only a few players who can match him in terms of talent. He can even convert his 100s to 200, that's how big a player he is. He is extremely confident as well. If you have players like Pandya and Pant, targets like these become easier to chase,” Danish Kaneria explained.

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar echoed similar sentiments. But unlike Danish Kaneria, the 1983 World Cup winner compared Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni.

“It can definitely happen. The kind of sixes Yuvraj and Dhoni used to hit, the way they steadied the innings, the way they ran between the wicket, Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant can be that pair for India. And just like Dhoni and Yuvraj used to hit sixes, I hope Pandya and Pant can win the hearts of cricket fans,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

The retired Pakistan cricketer and Sunil Gavaskar's remarks came after Rishabh Pant smashed a defiant hundred against Jos Buttler and company at Old Trafford in Manchester, leading the Rohit Sharma-led side to a 2-1 series triumph over the Three Lions during the weekend.

Rishabh Pant arrived at the crease with India in trouble at 21/2 after losing both their openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan inside the first five overs after Hardik Pandya (4/24) and Yuzvendra Chahal (3/60) helped the visitors bowl out England for 259 in 45.5 overs.

The Indians were then reduced to 72/4 with Virat Kohli perishing for 17 and Suryakumar Yadav departing for 16 by the time English bowlers delivered their 17 over.

Despite wickets falling around him, Rishabh Pant remained unperturbed and took a cautious approach at the start of the innings to get accustomed to the pace of the wicket. However, once he found his footing on the pitch, there was no looking back for Rishabh Pant.

The Uttarakhand-born dasher’s resurrection act came in tandem with Hardik Pandya who hit a scintillating 71 off 55 deliveries in a 133-run partnership which brought India back in the match.

After Hardik Pandya’s dismissal, Rishabh Pant upped the ante as he brought up his hundred off 106 balls, also his maiden one in the 50-over format in Manchester.

India eventually went on to achieve the target in 42.1 overs with Rishabh Pant remaining unbeaten on 125 off 113 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes.

En route to his knock of 125 not out, Rishabh Pant also broke a clutch of records, including MS Dhoni’s record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper-batter in a successful run-chase in SENA countries.

MS Dhoni remained unbeaten on 87 in a 50-over game against Australia in 2019 to guide India to their maiden bilateral series triumph Down Under. Rishabh Pant, however, broke that record with a fair margin as he smashed a scintillating 125* against England at Old Trafford.

With his match-winning three-figure score, Rishabh Pant became just the third Indian wicketkeeper to make a hundred while chasing a target in ODIs. In 2005, MS Dhoni tore apart the Sri Lankan bowling line-up to cruise through to an unbeaten 183 while Rahul Dravid occupied the third position in the list with his 109 not out against West Indies in 2002.

In the post-match presentation ceremony, a delighted Rishabh Pant said that he will always remember his innings at Old Trafford as it was his first ton in ODIs.

“Hopefully I will remember my first ODI century for the rest of my life. But when I was in there, I was just focusing on one ball at a time. When a team is under pressure and you bat like that, that’s what you aspire to do,” Rishabh Pant said.

I enjoy playing in England and will do whatever I can do to keep enjoying my cricket. The more cricket you play, the more experience you get,” Rishabh Pant added.